Muffler



E. c, HORTON Junkie 1%37.

MUFFLER Filed April 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Erwin Cfiormn ATT9 vQam, NEYE E. C. HORTON Jame 8, W15

MUFFLER Filed April 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll Hu 1 Aha INVENTOR 9oErwm C. notion, BY ATT0EY5 l atented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES MUFFLERErwin O. Horton, Hamburg, N. Y., assig'nor to Trico ProductsCorporation, Bufialo, N. Y.

Application April 12,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a suction producing device adapted forincorporation in the exhaust line or mufiier of an engine, such as amotor vehicle engine.

According to the invention, the flow of exhaust fluid from the engine isutilized to produce suction for various purposes such as operating anyone or more of various devices such as horn, windshield cleaner, pump,and the like. The invention comprehends the provision of branch passagesin the exhaust line, a suction producing device in one branch of theexhaust line, and valve means in the line, or in one branch passagethereof, controlled by automatic means. The automatic means comprises acontrol for the valve which is operable in accordance with the degree ofsuction in the suction line, or in a part such as a reserve tank of thesuction line. Upon this suction control may be imposed a further controlin accordance with pressure in the exhaust line, so that excessivepressure in the latter may be relieved by opening of the by-passage. Bythe suction control of the valve in the by-passage, the passage of fluidthrough the suction producing device, and hencethe evacuation of thesuction line, may be regulated to prevent excessive evacuation by suchdevice either where such device is the sole source of suction or Wherean additional or alternative source, such as the intake manifold of theengine, is provided.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description of typical embodiments of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a motor vehicle provided witha suction accessory system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the muffler andsuction producing exhaust apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating anotherconstruction;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the apparatusshown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. l, the motor vehicle having engine H with intakemanifold l2 and exhaust pipe E3, has an exhaust muflier l4 and suctionoperated accessories such as Windshield cleaner i5 and horn or trumpetIS. The cleaner and horn are connected to branches of a suction conduitll, which branches are controlled respec- 1935, Serial No. 16,078

(01. Isl-) tively by valves l8 and IS, the latter valve beingelectro-magnetic and being controlled by an electric circuit includingthe usual horn button 2| on the vehicle steering column 22.

The muffler 54 includes a conduit 23 of desired configuration, throughwhich exhaust gases pass from exhaust pipe l3 into an exhaust outletpipe 2 3. Surrounding a portion of conduit 23 is a tubular member 25providing a suction chamber 26 connected by a fitting 2'! to theaccessory suction line ll and to a manifold suction conduit 28 extendingto the intake manifold ii. In fitting 27 are fluid operable check valves29 and 3| which close away from conduit 28 and chamber 26 respectively,when the suction in either is lower than in the other. That is ifsuction is higher in conduit 28 and line 51 than in chamber 26, valve 3iwill close while valve 29 may remain open, or, if suction in line I! andchamber 26 exceeds that in conduit 28, valve 29 will close while valve3! may be maintained in open position.

Intermediate of the inlet and outlet ends of conduit 23 is a constrictedportion constituting a Venturi discharge tube, with throat 32 havingapertures 33 therethrough. Extending about the Venturi throat andcommunicating therewith through apertures 33 is an annular chamber 34.The latter is connected to chamber 26 through a conduit 35 havingtherein a check valve 36 closing toward chamber 26 when the fluid tendsto pass in that direction and opening when the fluid movement is towardannular chamber 34.

Connecting into conduit 23 on opposite sides of the Venturi is aby-passage 31, of area substantially greater than Venturi throat 32. Abutterfly valve 38 is disposed in by-passage 31, being carried by a pin39 extending through and journalled in the walls of the by-passage.Adjacent to by-passage 3'! and supported by suitable means such asbracket 4! is a chambered casing 42. Across the chamber of the casing isa diaphragm piston 43 which carries a piston rod 44 that extends throughan opening 45 in one wall of the casing. A crank arm 45 on valve pin 39is connected to the piston rod so that upon movement of the piston 43(downwardly as the device is depicted in Figs. 2 and 3) the valve pin 39will be rotated to open the valve 38.

The opening 45 loosely passes piston rod 44 so that air underatmospheric pressure is imposed upon one face of the diaphragm piston.

The other face of the piston is subjected to the pressure of fluidwithin chamber 26 by means of a conduit 4'! extending between chamber 26and casing 42. A spring 48, preferably disposed within casing :22,normally urges the piston (upwardly viewed in Figs. 2 and 3) to aposition wherein valve is closed, the closing movement of the valvebeing limited by a stop 49 on a Wall of the lay-passage 3?.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the pin 39 is offset from the center of valve38 so that the pressure of fluid moving through by-passage 3'! will tendto open the valve, and this tendency may of course be increased ordecreased by increasing or decreasing respectively the degree to whichthe pin is offset. Such changing of proportions or location of the partswill modify the operation of the device which will now be described.

When the vehicle engine is operating under slight throttle opening sothat a relatively small amount of exhaust fluid passes exhaust pipe 13,most, if not all, of such fluid will normally pass through throat 32 ofthe Venturi, since then the capacity of the throat is sufficient toprevent the building up of enough pressure in the exhaust line to openvalve. 38 as held closed by spring 48. Such passage of exhaust fluidwill reduce below atmospheric the pressure in chamber 34 due to theVenturi action, so that fluid will be withdrawn from chamber 26 viaconduit 35 and past check valve 36. When the fluid pressure in chamber26 is reduced below atmospheric to a sufiicient, predetermined degree,the diaphragm piston 43 will be moved against the resistance of spring48 to open valve 38. Thereupon a large portion of the exhaust fluid willmove through passage 31, by-passing the venturi and thereby reducing oreliminating further evacuation of chamber 26 by the Venturi means.

When the engine is operating under a more full throttle opening, themode of operation will be similar except that valve 38 may be opened tosome extent, even when suction in chamber is deficient, by the pressureexerted upon it by the exhaust fluid. However, due to the tendency ofspring 48 to close valve 38 when suction in chamber 26 is deficient, thevalve will open only to reduce excessive pressure of exhaust fluid andwill thereby compel passage of a considerable portion of the fluidthrough the Venturi to thereby further evacuate chamber 25.

It will be understood that the valve 38, by its automatic control, willenforce passage of fluid through the suction producing Venturi, and thatthe automatic control depends upon two factors, first the direct actionof the exhaust fluid, which when excessive in pressure will open thevalve, and secondly, the action of the suction. When suction in chamber2 3 is ample or excessive, the valve will be opened.

As indicated hereinbefore, increase or decrease of the degree to whichthe valve pin 39 is oifset from the center of the valve, will vary theopera-- tion. If the pin is changed to a more central position, thetendency of the valve to open under pressure of exhaust fluid willdecrease, so that if the pin is substantially centrally located, openingand closing of the valve will be dependent entirely upon movement of thepiston 43 in accordance with the degree of suction maintaining inchamber 26. If the pin is oiTset to a greater degree, the valve willopen under a lesser pressure of the exhaust fluid.

It will be understood that in addition to the function of producingsuction for operating aceessories, the device described will function tosilence the engine exhaust by reason of formation of a partial vacuouszone about the exhaust passage, and of a compensating fluttering actionof valve 38 in accordance with the exhaust pulsations. However, ifdesired, the chamber 26 may be formed apart from the exhaust pipe, ormay be eliminated without impairing the suction producing function ofthe device.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, a muffler of anysuitable form, conventional or otherwise, is connected in the exhaustline between the end 61 thereof which connects the. exhaust manifold ofthe engine and the end 62 thereof which opens to the atmosphere.Extending about the muiiler 6i) and joining the portions 6! and 62 ofthe exhaust line or conduit is a by-passage 63. Tapered tubular members64 and 64 are secured in the by-passage to provide therein a Venturitube, the reduced ends of the members constituting the constrictedportion or throat 65 of the Venturi tube and being slightly spaced toprovide an annular opening 86. This opening provides communicationbetween the. Venturi throat and the surrounding chamber 51 betweenmembers 64, 64 and the walls of bypassage 63. Connected to the latterand opening into chamber 6'! is a suction conduit 68 in communicationwith conduits 69, H, and 12. Conduit 69 may be extended to a fuel pump,horn, windshield cleaner, or other suction operated device; conduit llmay connect to the intake manifold of the engine, or other source ofsuction; and conduit #2 extends to a cylinder 13.

A valve casing 14 at the juncture of conduits 68, 69, H, and 12 containsa check valve which opens toward conduit 68 by passage of fluid in thatdirection, and closes when the pressure in conduit 68 is greater thanthat existing in conduits 69 and T2. Casing M also contains anothercheck valve 16, which opens toward conduit H by and upon passage offluid from conduit $9 or 12'. into conduit H, and closes when thepressure in the latter is higher than that in conduits 69 and T2.

Cylinder 13 is disposed in parallel adjacency with portion 62 of theexhaust passage, and has a hollow threaded boss 1! through which theconduit I2 communicates with the cylinder chamber. The boss extendsthrough and is secured to flange 18 of a clamp 19 which embraces theexhaust pipe 62. At the opposite end of the cylinder 13 is a bearing 82for a piston rod 33 carrying a piston 84 in the cylinder. At the otherend of rod 83 is a flexible link 85 pivoted to one end, 65, of a doublearm 86. The arm is carried by the pivot pin 81 of a butterfly valve 88in exhaust pipe 62 between the muflier 60 and the juncture of bypassage63. arm is connected to a spring 5|. A threaded shank 92 extends,slidably, through an opening in flange portion 93 of clamp 19, and isjoined to spring 9| in such manner that the tension of the spring may bevaried by adjusting a wing nut 94 on the shank against flange portion93.

The end of the cylinder 5'3 opposite the suction conduit 12 has anopening connected by conduit 8| to a part of exhaust pipe on the engineside of valve 83. Accordingly the piston 84 will be subjected to thedifierential pressures of the engine exhaust and the fluid in thesuction line.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 5, and 6, the spring 5! will acton arm 56 to tend to close valve 88 so that exhaust fluid will passthrough the by-passage 63 rather than through the muiiler B0. Theexhaust fluid. in passing the Venturi throat 65, will effect a decreaseof fluid pressure at this point, so that fluid will be drawn fromchamber 5? through opening 56 and thus the The opposite end, 89, of thedouble chamber connected conduits 68, 69, and 12 and chamber of cylinder13 will be partially evacuated. Evacuation of fluid from the cylinder13, through conduit 12, will cause the piston 84 to move rod 83 and arm86 in opposition to the pull of spring 9|. Accordingly as the degree ofsuction in conduit i2 and cylinder l3 increases, the valve 88 will beopened increasingly, allowing more and more engine exhaust to passthrough the mufiier E55, thereby decreasing the flow through the venturior by-passage 63 and likewise decreasing the suction producing Venturiaction. This result would obtain, unmodified, if conduit 84 opened tothe atmosphere. But since the piston 84 is subjected to exhaustpressure, the latter when it becomes excessive will also tend to movethe piston to open valve 88. In this manner, a temporary deficiency inthe degree of suction is prevented from unduly interfering withoperation of the engine by too great an increase in the exhaust backpressure.

The tension of the spring 9| may be varied by adjustment of wing nut 94in order to vary the degree of suction at which the valve 88 will befully opened. Preferably the parts will be so adjusted that the valve 88will be fully opened when the suction is sufiicient to satisfactorilyoperate such accessories as windshield cleaners and horns, but is notexcessive. The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 will functionin the manner just described whether the suction is produced by Venturimeans or by withdrawal of fluid to the engine manifold via conduit I I.That is, if the volume of engine exhaust fluid is insufficient to causethe Venturi to create a satisfactory degree of suction for operating theaccessories, but the manifold suction is sufiiciently high, the valve 83will also be opened. Thus, the back pressure of engine exhaust fluid isnot increased by the suction producing means except when the suction inthe suction system is insuiiicient.

It will be understood, however, that if desired, the manifold conduit lland valve 76 may be omitted and that the Venturi means may constitutethe sole source of suction for the system. In either case the muffler 60will operate in the usual manner to silence the noise of the exhaustgases when valve 88 is fully or partially open. When it is closed orpartially open, so that some exhaust gases pass through by-passage 63,the fluid stream through throat will be broken up to some extent byfluid entering through openings 56, and by expansion of gases in theportion of the Venturi tube beyond the openings 66, so that a mufflingaction will also take place in the by-passage 63.

It will be further understood that the terms passage and by-passage andthe like as used herein and in the apended claims are not restrictive,since in both illustrated embodiments the passage containing the Venturimeans or the passage parallel thereto may be considered to be either aby-passage or the primary exhaust passage.

It will be still understood further that the devices described aremerely illustrative of the inventive principles involved, which may beapplied in other physical embodiments within the purview and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suction producing device, a passage for exhaust gases, a portionof said passage being constructed to provide a Venturi throat, saidthroat having a port therein and a suction conduit connected to saidport, a by-passage for exhaust gases connected to said first mentionedpassage on opposite sides of the constricted portion for by-passinggases thereby, a valve in said by-passage, and means operable by fluidpressure differential and connected to the suction conduit forcontrolling said valve.

2. In a suction producing device, a passage for exhaust gases, a portionof said passage being constricted to provide a Venturi throat, said.

throat having a port therein and a suction conduit connected to saidport, a by-passage for exhaust gases connected to said first mentionedpassage on opposite sides of the constricted portion for by-passinggases thereby, a valve in said by-passage operable in the direction offluid flow through the by-passage, resilient means for urging the valveto a closed position, and means operable by differential pressure andconnected to said suction conduit for urging the valve to open position,whereby in the presence of a predetermined degree of suction said meanswill open the valve.

3. In a suction producing device for conection to a suction line, apassage for exhaust gases, a Venturi discharge tube in said passage andhaving a suction inlet, a by-passage about said tube, a fluid connectionbetween the suction inlet and said suction line, means operable by thepressure of said exhaust gases for regulating the relative flow of gasesthrough said Venturi tube and bypassage, and means operable inaccordance with the degree of suction in the suction line forcontrolling the first mentioned means.

4. In a suction producing device, a passage for exhaust gases divided toprovide a pair of branch passages arranged so that the gases may passthrough either one or both branch passages, one of said branch passagesbeing constricted to provide a Venturi throat having a port therein anda conduit connected to the port, a valve in one of the branch passages,resilient means for urging the valve to a closed position, and meansoperable by suction and connected to said conduit for urging the valveto open position.

5. In a suction producing device for withdrawing fluid from a line, apassage for exhaust gases having branch passages arranged in parallel, aV enturi discharge tube in one branch passage and having a suction inletconnected to said line, means for regulating the relative flow of gasesthrough the branch passages, said means comprising a valve in the otherbranch passage, resilient means for urging the valve to closed position,and means operable in accordance with the degree of suction in said linefor opening the valve against the urge of said resilient meansv 6. In asuction producing device, a passage for exhaust gases from an engine,said passage being divided to provide branch passages for said exhaustgases, one of said branch passages being constricted to form .a Venturithroat and a suction conduit opening into said throat, means operable bypressure of the exhaust gases for controlling the proportion of saidgases that passes through said throat, and meansoperable in accordancewith the degree of suction in said suction conduit for controlling thefirst mentioned means.

ERWIN C. HORTON.

